My tank after 3 months/a few questions

[boarderguy64]

Well, this is my first ever fish tank, so i just thought i'd bring everyone up to speed. its been running for approximately three months and fish seem to be doing great.

ammonia-0
trites-0
trates-0
ph-8.0

Livestock:
1 firefish
2 blue/green chromis
3 red leg hermits
3 astral snails
25lbs of live rock (going to add about another 15-20lbs this weekend)

and now for some questions:

i spring break plan is to build a sump for this system. Now i was under the impression that the bigger, the better. but do i really want a 30g sump with a 30g tank?

also, can anyone suggest a beginner fish/invert to add? ive been thinking about picking up a fire shrimp, or a banded shrimp and possibly another fish? any suggestions/reccomendations?

also, what is this? its definitely attached to a piece of rock, and im just curious what it is?

 

[secrest]

Your tanks is looking good for three months!!
Well i'll try to answer your questions the best i can

A 30 gallon sump would work for a 30 gallon tank, its all up to you how big you really want it. You could have as big a tank you want for a sump. On my 29 gallon i have a 20 gallon sump.

I think a fire shrimp would be a good addition for you. IME coral banded shrimp are not that great, one of my old roommates had one and it ate a few of his fish.

And I think the last pic is a dead maze brain coral

 

[RockStarFish]

It all depends jf you want a sump/refugium or not a 29 or 20 should still work either way. The thing on the rock is most liklly dead though good loking tank for the age

 

[boarderguy64]

ok cool, ill prolly use a a 20g tank to make the sump over break.

when making the baffles i plan to use just regular old silicon, will this present any problems? or should i use a special reef safe silicon?

 

[RockStarFish]

Yhe best stuff is DAP aquarium silico buy most 100% silicon for windows and doors will work

 

[RockStarFish]

You might also want to get a little clean up crew in there